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german coleslaw with parsley in a bowl.
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4.75 from 4 votes

German Coleslaw Recipe (Authentic German Cabbage Salad)

German coleslaw, also known as cabbage salad, is one of those easy recipes that finds its way to our table all year round - a true taste of everyday German cooking.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Additional Time3 hours
Course: Salads
Cuisine: German
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Calories: 147kcal
Author: Adina

Ingredients

  • 1 small white or green cabbage about 1.7 oz/ 750 g
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 cup sour cream Note 1
  • 2-3 tablespoons white wine vinegar to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk optional
  • 1 small bunch of parsley Note 2
  • 1 small bunch of chives
  • fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
US - EU

Instructions

  • Slice the cabbage very finely; you could use a mandolin. Place it in a large bowl, add some salt, starting with 2 teaspoons. Knead the cabbage thoroughly with your hands, taste, and add more salt if not salty enough. Don't overdo it, though, with the salt. Cover and let it stand in the fridge for 3 to 12 hours.
    1 small white or green cabbage + 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • Chop the onion very finely.
    1 medium onion
  • Dressing: Mix the crème Fraiche with the onions, add the vinegar, and add everything to the cabbage. Mix well and adjust the seasoning with salt (if still necessary), pepper, sugar, and more vinegar if necessary; the salad should be on the sour side. Finally, add a splash or two of milk to loosen the dressing (only if it seems too stiff).
    1 cup sour cream + onion + 2-3 tablespoons white wine vinegar + 1 teaspoon sugar + fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper + 1-2 tablespoons milk
  • Chop the herbs very finely and add them to the salad.
    1 small bunch of parsley + 1 small bunch of chives
  • Refrigerate: Stir well and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. It keeps for several days in the fridge.

Notes

  1. Dairy: The original dressing is made with German Schmand. The most similar product is smetana (Eastern European sour cream). You can also use Creme fraiche or full-fat Greek yogurt.
  2. Herbs: You can substitute the fresh parsley and chives with frozen herbs. Please don't use dried parsley and chives for this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the dish | Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 204mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g